Animal harm

For those generations raised on Winnie-the-Pooh, Paddington Bear and The Tales of Beatrix Potter, it will come as a shock to learn that they have all been harmed by the experience. Scientists (of course) now say that picture books featuring talking creatures prevent children learning about nature. According to a study of children aged under five, these stories lead to less factual knowledge and reasoning because they present animals in unrealistic ways, such as wearing clothes, talking and engaging in human-like activities. What po-faced nonsense: some of these books, such as Wind in the Willows, are masterpieces. And what about Doctor Dolittle? How else would we have found out about the Pushmi-pullyu? These scientists will be telling us that it doesn’t exist next.